Here are all the very best fresh green bean recipes to use this bright green veggie, from quick side dishes to creamy casseroles!
There’s nothing like fresh green beans: the satisfying crunch and brilliant green color brings life to any meal! There are lots of recipes that use soggy, frozen beans, but these fresh green bean recipes are anything but that! Here’s a list of the best ways to use fresh green beans. There’s our easiest 10-minute lemon green beans, the best way to use them as a side dish. But there are lots of main dish ideas too, from the classic French Nicoise salad to Italian vegetable soup. Ready to get to the recipes?
And now…the best fresh green bean recipes!
The favorite in our fresh green bean recipes: roasted green beans! The beans are roasted in a hot oven until tender, then spritzed with fresh lemon juice to bring a tang. They're topped with almonds for a nutty crunch, and make for a sophisticated side dish!
Bright green string beans are a little underrated, if you ask us. But they make a perfect side dish: delicious, healthy, and easy to make. One of the easiest ways to prepare them? Sauteed. It sounds overly simple, but you do need a few tricks to saute green beans perfection. Here's our tried and true method that works every time! It's easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough for a party.
Next up in our fresh green bean recipes: our 10-minute lemon green beans! These beans are a stunning side dish that couldn't be easier to whip up. Just trim the green beans, then steam them on the stovetop until bright green and tender. Mix them with a little olive oil and lemon, and they're a tangy counterpoint to any meal. You can also make them in an Instant Pot.
This one really is the best green bean casserole: because it's a fresh spin made all from scratch! It’s got crisp tender green beans and real mushrooms. The creamy sauce coats each of the beans, but isn’t gloppy. And it’s got a new take on the traditional fried onion topping: using crushed potato chips! You can make it either on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot.
Turns out, the grill is the ideal way to cook this green summer vegetable. Take a bite and these green beans are tender, with a burst of sweet, tangy, salty and charred flavor. Honestly, they’re just as addicting as French fries! They’re now a part of our repertoire: and we hope you’ll add them to yours, too.
Why not throw green beans into potato salad? This summery salad is a beautiful combination of boiled red potatoes, crunchy bright green beans, and fresh dill. They’re dressed with a combination of sherry vinegar, olive oil, and shallot, which mesh together into an understated but irresistible meld of flavors.
Green bean recipes aren't just for side dishes! Here's a legendary main dish where green beans have a starring role: classic Nicoise salad. This classic French composed salad features blanched green beans on a bed of greens with olives, tomatoes, tuna, hard boiled eggs, potatoes, and a zingy dressing. Because it’s packed with protein, it’s filling and incredibly satisfying.
Here's another green bean recipe that's a main dish: Italian soup! This cozy soup is similar to a minestrone, featuring a mix of savory vegetables like tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and green beans. Made with fresh basil, it's mixed with doughy gnocchi, dumpling-like pasta that makes it hearty and satisfying.
Green beans are a main component in this quinoa bibimbap bowl! Bibimbap is a Korean rice bowl full of pickled vegetables, savory sauce, and a runny egg, all stirred together into delicious savory goodness. This quinoa bowl is an interpretation of the original flavors, using green beans, quick pickled carrots and radishes, and topping it all off with a sauce made with gochujang, Korean chili paste.
And last but not least in our green bean recipes: summer vegetable salad! This one features blanched green beans and yellow wax beans, if you can find them! It's all about celebrating summer produce, with brightly colored cherry tomatoes and corn. Top it off with a creamy sesame ranch dressing and prepare to be amazed.
How to trim green beans…fast!
The biggest hurdle to using fresh green beans in recipes is trimming them! If you’re not careful, you can spend 10 minutes trimming off the ends of a bunch of green beans: wasting lots of prep time in the process. We found a way to trim green beans that’s quick and easy: you should be able to do this in 3 minutes. Here’s how to trim green beans…fast:
- Line them up: Grab a handful and place them on the cutting board. Working quickly, make a uniform pile with them all lined up lengthwise.
- Slice off one end: Line up all the ends against your knife edge. Grab them in one hand, and cut off the ends with a knife.
- Flip and slice the other: Quickly flip the beans the other way, and then push them towards your knife blade so that the other ends line up. Grab the pile and slice off the other ends.
Green beans nutrition
Are green beans healthy? Yes! Turns out, green beans are a great choice when it comes to side dish vegetables. Here are the basic nutrition highlights for this tasty bean (source):
- Green beans are a low calorie food. 1 cup of raw green beans has just 31 calories.
- Green beans contain fiber. 1 cup raw beans has 2.7 grams fiber, or about 8% of your daily need.
- Green beans have lots of Vitamin C and other vitamins. 1 cup raw beans has about 25% of your daily vitamin C.
- Green beans are a low FODMAP food. This means they’re good for people with chronic digestive issues.
Roasted Green Beans (& More Recipes!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This oven roasted green beans recipe is full of big flavor! A hot oven makes them juicy and tender, and they’re spritzed with zingy fresh lemon.
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/3 cup sliced or slivered almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash and trim the green beans.
- In a bowl, combine the beans with the olive oil, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then place the beans on the pan and roast for about 13 to 15 minutes, until just tender and lightly browned (before they get to dark brown).
- Meanwhile, toast the almonds in a small dry frying pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and chop.
- When beans are finished roasting, add squeezes of lemon juice and sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasted
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Green Bean Recipes, Fresh Green Bean Recipes
Last updated: November 2020
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